In better times, Jack Grealish’s tour of northern social clubs might have been celebrated as the actions of a grounded superstar, choosing lively local pubs over exclusive VIP lounges and security escorts.
Taken at face value, that’s exactly what it was—and many saw it that way. With Sunday and Monday off following Manchester City’s 3-1 FA Cup victory over Plymouth Argyle, Grealish spent the afternoon in Gorton, east Manchester, socializing in a setting where professional footballers are rarely spotted.
By the end of the night, he had traveled to the northeast, visiting North Biddick Social Club in Washington before heading to The Dubliner in Newcastle to catch up with an old friend. Reports suggest he spent at least £2,000 ($2,600) on drinks for those around him—mostly strangers—earning praise as a “top bloke.” However, he was also filmed looking unsteady by the end of the night, a reminder of the party-loving persona that defined City’s boozy treble celebrations in 2023.
Yet, when results on the pitch aren’t going well, nights like these are judged differently. Grealish is enduring his second consecutive difficult season since that historic success two years ago, struggling with form and fitness.
Once again, injuries have plagued his campaign. As was the case last season, his eagerness to return early has only led to further setbacks. He made one comeback against Aston Villa before Christmas, was set to play on Boxing Day against Everton, but suffered another injury on Christmas Eve. More recently, he has been dealing with an abductor issue—similar to the injury that troubled Ruben Dias and required surgery for Manuel Akanji.
Injuries have been a theme at City this season. Nathan Aké recently underwent surgery on a fractured foot, an issue that first arose in November. John Stones has twice come close to needing surgery for his ongoing foot problem. These physical struggles are often hidden from public view, and mental challenges even more so. While there is no suggestion that Grealish is struggling mentally, his recent Instagram post—“You never know what people are going through, and who is struggling”—hints at deeper emotions only those closest to him would understand.
The problem with forming opinions about players is that we only get brief glimpses into their lives. In February, Grealish was criticized after being pictured outside a London restaurant—despite doing nothing wrong. He wasn’t drunk, and though some questioned why he was in the capital the night after City’s Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, he had actually been sent there on club duties.
However, his latest bar crawl raises valid questions. While there are no rules at City preventing him from going out, it’s fair to wonder whether his social habits are affecting his performances. Even without being a professional athlete, most people know that bouncing back from a night of drinking becomes harder with age.
Grealish has always been known for striking a balance—he enjoys a party, but he also puts in the work. If he arrives late to training after a night out, he stays late to make up for it. This approach is uncommon at the highest level, yet it has worked for him—at least until now.
But is it still enough? Guardiola left him out of City’s final games last season, unhappy with his application in training. Around that time, they had a meeting where the manager urged him to come back stronger. Then, at the start of January, Guardiola was brutally honest:
“Savinho is in better shape and everything than Jack, and that’s why I played Savinho (against West Ham),” he said after a 4-1 win.
“Do I want the Jack that won the treble? Yeah, I want it, but I try to be honest with myself. I fought a lot for him to be here. I know he can do it because I saw him. I saw his level, and I want that—every single training session and every single game.”
In the past two months, Guardiola has spoken more positively about Grealish. “Jack has the sense of the street, a player from the street,” he said after a match against Leyton Orient. Before the Madrid game—which Grealish started but left injured after half an hour—Guardiola called him “a fighter.”
The manager has since downplayed any issues with professionalism. “The reason Jack didn’t play much was that he was not able. He had niggles and problems,” Guardiola said last week. “There is no question mark about his quality, but because of problems, he has not played three games in a row.”
Since October, Grealish has started just two of City’s last 20 league matches. Though injuries have played a major role, his rhythm has also been disrupted—after impressing in central midfield against Nottingham Forest in December, he was left out of the next match.
At this stage of his City career—now in his fourth season—it’s hard to argue that things have gone as planned. His slow start in his debut year was expected under Guardiola, but after playing a crucial role in the treble-winning campaign, the assumption was that he would kick on. Instead, since that triumph, he has started only 28 of City’s 85 Premier League and Champions League matches.
When fit, he has delivered key contributions. His performances last autumn earned him a recall to the England squad after missing out on Euro 2024. But availability remains an issue.
With two years left on his contract, a case could be made for City and Grealish to part ways this summer.
It would be disappointing if he failed to fulfill the potential he showed two years ago, especially given his determination to return quickly from setbacks.
Rightly or wrongly, though, the lingering question remains: could he have done more?
